Adjustable bracket for ladders



'( No Model.)

H. M. STILLMAN. ADJUSTABLE BRACKET FOR LADDBRS.

Patented Sept; 15, 1896.

Hilln awe mug,

UNITED I STATES I PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY M. STILLMAN, OF MILWAUKEE, \VISCONSIN.

ADJUSTABLE BRACKET FOR LADDERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 567,755, dated September 15, 1896.

I Application filed February 17, 1896. $erial No. 579,474. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern;

Be it known that I, HENRY M. STILLMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee, State of WVisconsin, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Adjustable Bracketsfor Ladders, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to devices for the use of painters, carpenters, and the like, and has for its .object to provide a bracket which may be so adjusted that its platform will always be in the same horizontal position.

My invention further consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the bracket. Fig. 2 is aside view of the same. Fig. 3 shows the manner in which a plank is supported for a scaifold. Fig. at is a sectional view of Fig. 3, taken through one of the ladders.

A A are the two side pieces of the bracket, to the upper ends of which, as at a, is hinged the platform 13, which preferably consists of the parts I) 1), upon which are fastened the cross pieces 0 c in any desired manner. Hinged to the outer end of the parts I) b of the platform B are-the supports C O, which are connected together at their lower ends by the rod D.

To the rear of the side pieces are fastened the hooks E E, which engage the rungs of a ladder, as shown more particularly in Figs. 3 and l, and securely hold the bracket in place upon the same.

I The side pieces A A have in their lower ends the notches d cl, with any pair of which the rod D may be engaged, so that the platform 13 may alwaysbe adjusted to a horizolr tal position without regard to the angle of inclination of the ladder upon which the bracket may be fastened.

The rod D is provided for a short distance adjacent to its ends with the screw-threaded portions ff, upon which turn the thumb-nuts g 9, so that after the rod has been hooked into the proper pair of notches, by turning up the thu1nbnuts, it may be securely held in its adjusted position.

hen used, as shown in Fig. 3, as a scaffold-bracket, it is necessary to use two ladders, each fitted with a bracket, across which a plank P may be laid. The plank is preferably held in position on the platform by the means I will now describe.

h designates what I term a rocker, and it preferably consists of the half-cylindrical part 71,, which is loosely fastened to the plat form, so that it may have a slight rocking moti7on by means of the bOllit and the thumbnut a.

Fastened to one end of the rocker is the projection L, provided with a sharp point, which engages the edge of the plank. At the other end of the rocker I provide a clamp which is composed of the curved plate M, which has the thumb-screw "m in its free end. The th umb-screw has a sharpened end, which, together with the projection L, holds the plank securely in place upon the rocker. The curved plate M is prevented from springing out when the thumb-nut is turned down upon the plank by the bolt 01, which passes through the plate. The object in having the plank supported upon the rocker is to allow for the give of the plank when a weight is upon it and at the same time hold the plank firmly in posi tion.

It will be understood that when I use the device as a platform for a ladder I remove the rocker entirely, and that it is only when a scaffold is required that the rocker is used.

It will of coursebe understood that I do not limit myselfto the exact construction as here shown and described, as many changes of form might be made by one skilled in the art to which this device pertains without departing from the scope of my invention.

IVhat I claim is- 1. In an adjustable bracket for ladders, the combination with side pieces, of a platform hinged thereto, with means for attaching said bracket to a ladder, means for adjusting said platform to a horizontal position irrespective of the angle of inclination of the ladder and means for fastening a plank to said platform, substantially as described.

2. In an adjustable bracket for ladders, the combination with side pieces having notches 2 seams in their lower ends, of the platform hinged to the upper ends thereof, and supports hinged to said platform, a rod carried by the lower ends of said supports for engaging said notches, means for locking said rod in said notches and means for attaching said bracket to a ladder, as specified.

3. In an adjustable bracket for ladders, the combination with side pieces having notches in their lower ends, of the platform hinged to the upper ends of said side pieces, and supports hinged to said platform, and a rod carried by the lower ends of. said supports for engagement with said notches, and nuts on said rod to lock said rod in said notches, and hooks on said side pieces for attaching said bracket to a ladder, substantially as described.

4. The combination With an adjustable bracket for ladders, of a rocker, means for attaching said rocker to said bracket, and

means for securing a plank to said rocker, substantially as described.

5. The combination with an adjustable bracket for ladders, of a rocker, means for attaching said rocker to said bracket, of a projection fastened to one end of said rocker, and a clamp to the other end of said rocker, substantially as and for the purpose described.

6. The combination with an adjustable bracket for ladders, of a rocker, means for attaching said rocker to said bracket, of a sharpened projection on one end of said rocker, and a clamp on the other end of said rocker, said clamp consisting of a curved plate M and a thumb-screw m on said plate, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

HENRY M. STILLMAN.

Witnesses:

D. F. STILLMAN, Guo. E. SUTHERLAND. 

